Francisco Torres

Francisco Torres

Trombonist and musical director for the Grammy-Award winning Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, Francisco Torres is a trombonist, bass trombonist, composer, arranger and clinician. Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Torres began his musical studies at the age of 15, playing the saxophone in high school for a year, switching to euphonium, and then the trombone. Francisco is at home with jazz, classical, latin, funk, reggae, ska, and studio work, but is a jazz trombonist at heart.

In 1998, while still at Cal State Long Beach, Poncho Sanchez saw Francisco at a small jazz club and asked if he would join his band. As a member of the popular Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band for 10 years, he has been an integral part of the band’s sound, not only as soloist, but also as director and arranger. With Poncho, he has won a Grammy, been nominated for two Latin Grammys, and won three Billboard awards, as well as developing a small reputation for Latin Jazz arranging.

Not only is Torres a member of the Sanchez Latin Jazz Band but also shares his talent as a member of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band as well as playing regularly with Bill Holman’s Big Band (filling in for the great Andy Martin).

Recording and performance credits in the international scene include Cachao, Celia Cruz, Los Lobos, Roberto Roena, Andy Montañez, Pete and Sheila Escovedo, Juan Gabriel, Emmanuel, Ricky Martin, Alex Acuña, Justo Almario and the great Aretha Franklin. Television credits include Saturday Night Live, Dancing With The Stars, America's Got Talent, The Latin Grammys, the ALMA Awards, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and can be heard in the soundtracks of "Confessions Of A Shopaholic", "Charlie St. Cloud" and "Dance With Me". Francisco has also recorded or performed with Terence Blanchard, Joey DeFrancesco, Bill Cunliffe, Dianne Reeves, Pattie Austin, Natalie Cole, James Moody, Roy Hargrove, Michael Buble, Dr. Dre, and Busta Rhymes.

Francisco maintains a busy touring and clinic schedule, while fitting in studio work when at home. In Francisco's eyes there is only music, not styles. Ever a perfectionist, he strives to give each and every performance what it requires, in any genre. He is a firm believer that you must honor the music.